If you are like most parents with active children, you may be desperately missing the outlet that youth sports once provided for your kids. As states begin the delicate reopening process, many areas are now putting youth athletics back out on the table. Here is what you need to know about how and when children should return to sports and activities.

Government Guidance

The majority of the guidelines for the opening of youth sports will come from the local government. Because there is no federal guidelines in place, this places the onus on the states, counties, and cities to mandate their own return to play guidelines.

The lack of federal guidance can cause issues with overlapping guidelines between counties in the same state. Other youth organizations are trying to get around their own local laws by sending their athletes to compete in states that are more open. It is important to remember that this a global pandemic that does not know borders.

Deciding Where to Play

If your team is interested in traveling for a competition, it is important that you stay on top of the prevalence of cases at the destination. Just because the virus may be under control in your area, it does not mean that it is not raging even just a few hours away. When choosing places to compete, be sure to check to see how successful they have been with containing the spread of the virus. This is particularly important if your team will need to stay overnight or eat out at restaurants while on the road.

Return to Participation Depends on the Sport

In addition to the condition of the spread of the virus in your area, the sport that you are playing will also have a significant impact on safety protocols. It is clear that the safest sports are those that are played outside and with limited physical contact. For this reason, most states are easing back into sports by allowing activities such as baseball and soccer.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, it will likely be some time before sports such as basketball, football, or wrestling return with widespread participation. If your child is itching to pick up a new activity, now is the perfect time to try out a sport such as golf or swimming.

Look to Your Local School District

If you are on the fence about whether your child should return to their sport of choice, the guidelines of your local school district may provide you guidance. While many school districts have already announced virtual or hybrid learning plans for the upcoming academic year, most of these administrators are still putting plans in place for athletes to safely compete.

One of the most common ways that districts are mitigating the risks is moving the sports to different seasons. Some districts have postponed sports all together at the start of the school year, choosing to go with a compressed season for all activities later in the year. Other districts are choosing to switch seasons so that the non-contact sports such as golf, tennis, and cross country compete in the fall. Conversely, contact sports such as football and soccer will now compete in the spring with the hope that virus the will be more under control at that point.

Precautions to Take

With little national guidance in place, it is up to the sports organization to institute its own rules and regulations. Some sports will require that the athlete wear a facial covering while not in action. For example, basketball players may be required to wear a mask while sitting on the bench.

Additionally, it is a good idea to not share equipment at this time. Frequent handwashing, temperature checks prior to participation, practicing in smaller groups, and prohibiting athletes from sharing food and drink are all steps that an organization can take to mitigate the risks.

In the end, every parent has to weigh the benefits of participation with the risks associated with returning to action. Obviously, this is a highly personal decision that is largely dependent on the health risks of your family. If you live with an individual who is at a higher risk of experiencing severe complications with COVID-19, allowing your child to begin participating in sports again may not be the most prudent choice.